Bay Area News

Roadshow: Stopped on a hill, guy on my tail; is it my fault if I roll into him?

By Gary Richards grichards@mercurynews.com

Posted:
03/19/2013 07:51:17 AM PDT

Updated:
03/19/2013 07:51:34 AM PDT

Q I love going to San Francisco in my Prius, but I've noticed on many of the hills in the city my car rolls back anywhere from a couple feet to almost a car length before I can hit the gas. Once I had a taxi so close to my back bumper, I started running the stop signs (after checking to see if it was safe) just to make sure I didn't roll back and hit him. If I hit him, who would be at fault legally even though it's clearly his fault in real life?

Christopher Ginac

Reno

A San Francisco traffic officials say you would be to blame. The vehicle that rolls back is at fault, as it is the driver's responsibility to prevent it.

Q While we were driving home, my 6-year-old son Jerald asked, "Who uses the call box?" I answered: people who have cars which break down while driving. However, I suddenly realized, with a number of folks having cellphones, how often are they really used?

Jose Geronimo

Newark

A Not nearly as much as a decade ago. There were 98,000 calls from 3,300 call boxes in 2001 in the Bay Area, and just under 20,000 calls from 2,200 boxes in 2012. Plans call for removal of 503 call boxes over the next year, and perhaps as many as 150 more by 2015.

Q So California's gas tax will be the nation's highest after an upcoming increase on July 1. These commies in Sacramento must be really proud of themselves.

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Hugh Allison

Valencia

A Our state gas tax will hit 39.5 cents a gallon in a few months, up 3.5 cents. The increase means California will have the highest gas tax in the nation, at 70.6 cents a gallon when federal taxes are included.

But commies? Really, commies?

Q About a month ago metering lights were turned on at the Jackson Avenue onramp to north Interstate 280. This had been very helpful with the congestion at 680-280-101 interchange. For the last couple of weeks, these lights have been turned off. What happened?

Harry Singla

San Jose

A Wire thieves, once again. No word on when the meter will be working again.

Q I wish there was a way to have meter lights from south Highway 101 to 87. Traffic from 101 goes so fast it is hard to merge.

Mo M.

A There are no plans to install a meter at this location. The adjoining Charcot Avenue onramp to south 87 is metered, but that light is not working. Why? Silly question: wire theft.

Q The Alma Avenue onramp to northbound Highway 87 needs your attention. When the locals pull onto the one-lane onramp, they move to the far right to let people going to the carpool lane get by. But there is no sign visible saying that when you go around a corner you are going to be in a carpool lane.

A lot of people pull around the long line, go around the corner, and realize they are trapped in a carpool lane. Many, of course, stop and try to get back into a solid line of cars, backing up the carpool people. Others just keep going, and could end up with a huge ticket. There needs to be a sign that says left lane for carpools only visible when you enter the onramp.

Doug Coffey

San Jose

A Caltrans says signs aren't needed, but it will change the striping to better set off the carpool lane to reduce confusion. When this will happen is not clear.

Q I would like to draw attention to Fremont Avenue in Sunnyvale between Highway 85 and El Camino Real. It has gotten worse now with many potholes. Sunnyvale had repaved Homestead and Remington roads, now it's time to work on Fremont Avenue. Can you help?

Michael Chan

A This summer the city will repave the section of Fremont from Hollenbeck to Sunnyvale-Saratoga Road. It plans to pave east from Sunnyvale-Saratoga to Kingfisher within a couple of years.